√VFACTS December 2022: Australia’s favourite new cars chosen by private buyers

The top of the Australian new-car sales charts is dominated by fleet vehicles. But what are the favourite choices when it comes to private buyers?

Australians treated themselves to a record number of SUVs – and kept the humble hatchback alive last year – according to exclusive data that reveals the favourite choices among private buyers.

The top of the Australian new-car sales charts has been dominated by the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes for the past seven years.

However, an exclusive breakdown of the 2022 new-car sales data has revealed that the popularity of the market leaders has been driven by government and business fleets, mining companies, and tradies.

When it comes to buyers putting their hands in their own pocket to put money down on a new car, the sales charts are upturned.

The Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and MG ZS – all of which are mid-sized SUVs – are the top three choices when it comes to private buyers, when sales of rental and business fleets are removed.

And the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUV twins ranked fifth and sixth on the private buyer sales charts for passenger cars.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the appearance of two hatchbacks inside the Top 10, with the Hyundai i30 ranked as the fourth favourite choice among private buyers last year, ahead of the MG3 in seventh place.

Indeed, the Hyundai and MG hatches even outsold small-car stalwart the Toyota Corolla, which finished just outside the Top 10 in the private buyers list.

The other upset: the Tesla Model 3 electric car was the 14th most popular passenger car among private buyers last year – outselling the likes of the Mitsubishi ASX SUV, Mazda3 hatch, and Kia Cerato small car despite costing roughly twice as much as the nearest vehicles it outsold.

The Top 20 list of new passenger cars sold in Australia in 2022 is listed below. The data excludes sales to fleets, government and rental-car operators.